Pronger was suspended Sunday for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals for his forearm to the head of Dean McAmmond that knocked out the Senators forward and made his status for tonight’s pivotal game questionable.

The loss of Pronger is nothing new to the Ducks. They defeated Detroit in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals when Pronger was suspended for a high hit to the head of Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom. He also missed 16 games during the regular season, his first in Anaheim, because of injuries, but this discipline pattern has become troublesome to the Norris Trophy finalist.

“It was a reaction play. I stepped up to make the hit and got him with my forearm,” said Pronger, who practiced with the team Sunday. “Obviously you’ve got to suffer the consequences of what’s come down. It was a situation we were in last series, and certainly teammates rallied around me and rallied around one another.

“Certainly we’re looking for that again.”

Pronger leveled McAmmond with his elbow Saturday in the Ducks’ 5-3 loss to the Senators. The Ducks are ahead in the series 2-1 and will get Pronger back upon returning home to Anaheim for Game 5 on Wednesday.

They will either be tied or a win away from the first Stanley Cup title in the Ducks’ 13 NHL seasons. Anaheim is 7-7-3 without Pronger in the lineup.

“Nobody can replace a guy like Chris Pronger,” said forward Teemu Selanne, tied with the all-star defenseman with 14 playoff points. “It’s just another bump on the road. We have to put the all-wheel drive on and keep pushing forward.

“We just want to get better and play better … and not worry about too much other stuff.”

NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell announced his decision via conference call at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ontario, a few hours after meeting with Pronger.

In Campbell’s nine years on the job following an NHL coaching career, he has suspended three players in the finals.

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